Folding chair



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367 QSEPT 20 3927 May 4 1926. 1,583,491

w. c. RASTETTEiR FOLDING CHAIR Filed Sept. 50, 1924 /6 /4 i llllllllll" ii 1 fin INVENTOR I ATTO'fiNEY Patented May 4, 19 26.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

WILLIAM G. 'RAS'IETTER, 0F FORT WAYNE, DIANA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed September 30, 1924. S'erial No. 740,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'itknown that I, WrnmAM CfRAs'r'rxrrun, a citizen of the United States of Ame-rica, amlresident of Fort Wa ne, in the county of Allen and State (if Indiana, have invented certain new and ,'use'ful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a. specification.

lhis -inventio'n relates to improvements in folding chairs and the object thereof is to provide'in a folding chair a flexible back so connected with the folding supports of the chair as to become moved into extended position without affecting its rigid connection with the chair frame.

This object is accomplished by-the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which i Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a. structure embodying the invention, a portion thereofbeing in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary detail view showing a section of the chair frame;

Fig. 4: is a perspective View of a stop, used also as a guide, included in the structure;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of'one of the-connections between the back and corresponding guide; and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing a portion of the seat.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters: I I

The invention comprises a. main frame preferably formed of a wooden strip 1 bent in its middle to form a how 2, with contiguous parallel legs 3, there being a crosspiece 4 and bracket 5 connecting the legs at their lower ends.

Supported between the. legs is a. horizontal rod 6 upon which is pivotally mounted a seat 7, and also inthe frame is pivotprojected from ally secured a U-shaped prop formed of a rod 8 shaped so as to have upwardly ex tending arms 9 which are respectively pivoted at their upper ends to the corresponding sides of the frame as indicated by 10. The back end ofthe seat 7 has at each side thereof an eyebolt 11 through which the corresponding arm 9 of the prop extends, the eyebolts being slidable on the arms and limited in their upper movement by corresponding stops 12 onsaid arms 5 the shank 1Z3-of each stop secured at itsup1per end by the pivot 10 with which the corre spending arm 9 securedto the,f1'amc,:the

shank being disposed. in a plane parallel with the arm.

In the upper part of the main frame at each side of the loop thereof, extending through theinne r face. of the strip forming the frame, is made a -ker f 1 1 diagonally disposed ,c'lownwar'd'ly from point :at its top near the front face of the frame. In said kerfs are secured corresponding upper portions of a back 14 that is formed preferably of a single plate of laminated wood fashioned in suitable design, there being a fulcrum bar 15 laterally disposed and secured in the frame adjacent said kerfs and against which the back 14 bears permanently. In this manner the upper part of the back 14 is firmly and rigidly fixed in connection with the frame. At the lower end of the back l l'at each side thereof is fixed a loop 16 that encompasses the corresponding guide 13 upon which the loop has vertical sliding movement.

Upon the rod 6 between each side of the seat and the corresponding leg of the frame is pivoted a brace 17 that has limited sliding movement on the corresponding arm 9 of the prop, which braces serve to sustain the prop when in extended position.

In the operation of the invention, the seat is swung upon the rod 6 to a horizontal position which has the effect of swinging the prop, through its connections with the eyebolts on the seat, to sustaining position. As the prop is swung rearwardly,the guides 13 are accordingly moved so that the lower'end of the back through its loop connections with said guides is moved rearwardly while the upper end of the back is .held firmly in. the frame and sustained by the fulcrum bar. In this manner the back is bent so as to present a convex front which lends gracefulness to its appearance and which comfortably fits the back of the chair.

vWhat I claim is 1. In a folding chair, a main frame including a pair of legs spaced apart; a rod horizontally positioned with its ends secured occupant of the to the corresponding legs; a seat pivotally,

supported on the rod; a prop member having arms, the upper ends of which arepivoted in the frame at points above said rod; a sliding connection on said arms secured to the rear end of the seat; a stop fixed on each arm operable to limit upward movement of said sliding connections; a vertically disposed guide in connection with the upper part of each of said arms; a fulcrum bar transversely disposed in the upper part of the chair frame; and a bendable back member secured at its upper part in the frame and bearing upon the fulcrum bar and havingsliding connections respectively at its lower end with said guides, said back assuming a flat plane when the chair is folded and a forwardly curved plane when the chair is extended for use.

2. In a folding chair having a main frame in supported connection with a hinged prop and a seat pivotally supported in the frame having limited sliding connection with the prop; a fulcrum bar transversely disposed in the upper part of the frame; vertically disposed guides on said prop; and a bendable back member rigidly secured at its upper part in the frame bearing upon the fulcrum bar and having sliding connections at its lower end with the respective guides.

. 3. In a folding chair having a main frame with a prop in hinged connection therewith and a folding seat the prop including guides thereon a fulcrum bar transversely disposed in the upper part of the frame; and a bendable back member rigidly secured to the frame and fulcrum bar and having sliding connections with the respective guides said back extending in a flat plane when the chair is folded and having a forwardly disposed curvature when the chair is extended for use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM G. RASTETTER. 

